Elliot Morley

A committed environmentalist, Elliot Morley served almost 10 years in government and had the distinction of being the world's first climate change minister.

Morley, 57, was a teacher before being elected to the Commons in 1987. When Labour came to power in 1997 he was made a fisheries minister and he continued to serve in government looking after various environment portfolios, eventually becoming minister of state for climate change.

Morley, the MP for Scunthorpe, left the government in 1996. He became chairman of the energy and climate change select committee but stood down when the allegations about his expenses were published last year.

After he was accused of claiming £16,800 for a mortgage that had already been paid off, Morley apologised for what he said was a "genuine mistake". He said he would stand down at the general election.

David Chaytor

A former lecturer, Chaytor was elected as MP for Bury North in the Labour landslide of 1997.

Chaytor, 60, has always been a backbencher. His main interests are the environment and education and in 2000 he received the Green Ribbon award for being the best environmentalist backbencher in the Commons.

Last year, after he was accused of claiming £13,000 for a mortgage that had already been paid off, Chaytor said he would be standing down at the election because he did not want to be a "distraction" during Labour's election campaign.

Jim Devine

A former union official, Devine was Robin Cook's election agent and, following Cook's death in 2005, he succeeded him as MP for Livingston.

He has never been a minister, but for a year he served as parliamentary aide to Rosie Winterton, a health minister.

After he was accused of submitting dubious expenses claims last year, he was told by Labour he could no longer stand as a candidate at the election. Devine, 56, complained that he had not been allowed to give his side of the story properly.

Lord Hanningfield

A farmer, Lord Hanningfield – also known as Paul White – has been an Essex county councillor for 40 years. He is leader of the council and has held a variety of senior posts in local government.

Aged 69, Hanningfield received a peerage in 1998. He has been a Tory transport spokesman in the Lords.

After his expenses were criticised last year, Hanningfield said: "I work extremely hard on the frontbench and am satisfied that I can account for my expenses."